N.J. CivilWar Record: Page 742
On the 4th day of August, 1862, a draft of three hundred thousand Militia was ordered by the President, to be immediately called into the service of the United States, to serve for nine months, unless sooner discharged. Regulations for the draft were soon after received from the War Department, which provided, that an enrollment be immediately made of all able-bodied male citizens between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, and announced the quota of this State to be ten thousand four hundred and seventy-eight men. By a subsequent order it was directed that the draft, as ordered by the President, be made on Wednesday, the 3d day of September, between the hours of 9 o'clock, A. M., and 5 o'clock, P. M., and to be continued from day to day until completed. To meet this demand the assessors were called upon for a correct enrollment of all those liable to do military duty, and to ensure certainty, the same was required of the Brigade Commanders. The enrollment having been made, General Orders, No. 4, dated, Office of Adjutant General, Trenton, N. J., August 19, 1862, setting forth the quota required from each County, City and Township, was issued. It was also announced that volunteers in lieu of drafted men would be received up to the 1st of September. A general desire was manifested throughout the State to fill this quota by voluntary enlistment, and thus avoid the draft. This desire was promptly and energetically met by the proper State officials, and under existing orders governing the enrollment of troops, active measures were put forth to accomplish it, and rendezvous for their reception were established in five different localities. The result was a complete success, and on the morning of September 3d, the day appointed for commencing the draft, the War Department was officially notified that the quota required of this State, was in Camp, without a single drafted man, and their acceptance urged. The men thus raised were organized into Eleven Regiments of Infantry, and designated the Twenty-first to the Thirty-first Regiments, inclusive.
The Twenty-first Regiment was organized under the provisions of an Act of Congress, approved July 22, 1861, and under existing orders governing the enrollment of troops. A draft for ten thousand four hundred and seventy-eight men, to serve for nine months, unless sooner discharged, had been made upon the Governor of this State by the President of the United States, August 4, 1862, and soon after full instructions for conducting it were received from the War Department. The draft so ordered, was not to interfere with orders governing recruiting, and all enlistments up to September 1st, 1862, would be placed to the credit of the State. A general desire manifested and expressed by the State authorities as well as by prominent citizens throughout the State to avoid the draft, gave an enthusiasm to recruiting which caused the entire quota to be raised by voluntary enlistment, and in Camp by the 3d day of September, 1862, the time appointed for commencing the draft. The organization of the Regiment was fully completed, officered and equipped by the 15th day of September, 1862, at which time, the command was duly mustered into the service of the United States for nine months, at Trenton, N. J., by Frank D. Howell, First Lieutenant Seventeenth Infantry, United States Army, having a full complement of men. Officers, 38; Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates, 966. Total, 1,004. It left the State September, 24, 1862, en route for Washington. A few days after its arrival, it proceeded to Frederick City, Md., and soon after joined the Army of the Potomac, having been assigned to the Sixth Army Corps. The Regiment continued its organization and remained in active service until the expiration of its term of service, when it was ordered to return to New Jersey for discharge. The Regiment was mustered out of service at Trenton, N. J., June 19, 1863, by Joseph P. Ash, First Lieutenant Fifth Cavalry, United States Army.
The Regiment was attached to the Third Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Army Corps.
The Regiment took part in the following engagements: Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13 and 14, '62; Fredericksburg, Va., May 2 and 3, '63; Salem Heights, Va., May 3 and 4, '63; Franklin's Crossing, Va., June 5, '63.
| 1 |
Gilliam Van Houten |
Colonel |
Sept. 6, '62 |
Sept. 15, '62 |
9 Mos |
|
Died near Banks' Ford, Va., while Pris. of War, May 6, '63, of wounds received in action at Salem Heights, Va., May 4, '63. |
| 1 |
Isaac S. Mettler |
Lieut. Col |
Sept. 6, '62 |
Sept. 15, '62 |
9 Mos |
June 19, '63 |
|
| 1 |
Hiram Van Buskirk |
Major |
Sept. 6, '62 |
Sept. 15, '62 |
9 Mos |
June 19, '63 |
|
| 1 |
Andrew Van Buskirk |
Adjutant |
Sept. 15, '62 |
Sept. 15, '62 |
9 Mos |
June 19, '63 |
|
| 1 |
William Harper |
Qr. Mr |
Sept. 12, '62 |
Sept. 15, '62 |
9 Mos |
June 19, '63 |
|
| 1 |
Daniel McNeil |
Surgeon |
Sept. 12, '62 |
Sept. 15, '62 |
9 Mos |
June 19, '63 |
|
| 1 |
William S. Janney |
Asst. Surg |
Sept. 12, '62 |
Sept. 15, '62 |
9 Mos |
|
Promoted Surg. 22d Reg. N. J. Vols., March 27, '63. |
| 2 |
Cornelius Conover |
Asst. Surg |
May 16, '63 |
June 2, '63 |
9 Mos |
June 19, '63 |
Com. Asst. Surg. vice Janney promoted. |
| 1 |
Samuel Conn |
Chaplain |
Oct. 1, '62 |
Oct. 16, '62 |
9 Mos |
June 19, '63 |
Private Co. H : Chaplain to fill original vacancy. |
Previous Page in Book ********* Table of Contents *********** Next Page in Book
|